COMMUNITY CALENDAR Jan. 31

Tuesday

Jan 30, 2018 at 1:31 PMJan 30, 2018 at 1:34 PM

All area codes are 850 unless noted.

Destin City Hall

All City Council meetings, workshops, executive sessions and CRA Board meetings are held at the City Hall Annex, 4100 Indian Bayou Trail. All other board and committee meetings are held at City Hall, 4200 Indian Bayou Trail.

• Short Term Rental Task Force, 3 p.m. Jan. 31

• State of the City, 4:30 p.m. Feb. 5, City Hall Annex

• Board of Adjustment Hearing, 5:30 p.m. Feb. 7

Taxes done free

Tax-Aide is a free service for low to moderate income tax filers with IRS-certified volunteer tax preparers. There are six sites serving the area — Crestview Library, Destin Library, Niceville Library, Bob Hope Village, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Shalimar, and a Fort Walton Beach site at First Christian Church, 201 St. Mary Ave.

Bring a photo ID, Social Security cards or other official documentation for the tax filer, spouse, and any others on the return and all income and expense documents such as W-2’s, 1099’s, etc. Also, bring your 2016 tax return if possible.

Choctawhatchee Audubon Society

“Trees on the Coast, Enhancing the Beauty of Okaloosa and Walton Counties, One Tree at a Time” will be presented Feb. 1 by Allen French at the meeting at 6:30 p.m. in room 308/309 of the student services building 400 at NWFSC in Niceville. Admission is free and open to the public. Call or email Dr Don Baltz at 225-252-2760, dbaltz@LSU.edu for more information.

Feb. 10: Led by property owner Bob Reid, a field trip to Little Creek Woods in north Walton County will be held. Wear sturdy closed toe shoes and a hat and bring sack lunch, your camera, and binoculars. Meet at the CVS store, across the street from McDonalds, in Oak Creek Shopping Center Niceville at 7 a.m. Call 678-1926.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and the Mental Health Association will offer a 12-week course to help individuals cope with mental illness of family members and friends. The free course is from 6-8 p.m. beginning Jan. 31 at Village Baptist Church, 101 Matthew Blvd. in Destin. Reservations must be made at 244-1040.

The Knights of Columbus Emerald Coast Council will have a Fish Fry Dinner from 4-7 p.m. Feb. 2 at Corpus Christi Church, 307 Beach Drive in Destin. Adults are $10 and children are $4.50. The Knights of Columbus Fish Fry’s are sponsored several times a year at different locations in Destin. All proceeds go to local charities and community service programs in the Destin area.

State of the City Address

Mayor Scott Fischer will present the City of Destin’s 33rd Annual State of the City Address at 5 p.m. Feb. 5 at the City Hall Annex, 4100 Indian Bayou Trail. Refreshments will be served at 4:30 p.m. The presentation will be given prior to the 6 p.m. council meeting that evening. Citizens are encouraged to attend this celebration of the city’s accomplishments from 2017!

“It has been an absolute pleasure to represent Destin this past year, and I look forward to sharing the current state of the city with everyone,” said Mayor Fischer. “While 2017 brought some challenges, it was also filled with accomplishments that are keeping this city moving in a positive direction. I am encouraged by what I have seen and look forward to the New Year.”

Live streaming will be available at www.youtube.com/cityofdestin.

MUG

The Mac Users Group will meet at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 5 in the NWFSC Student Services Center, Room 308/309. Jonathan Jernigan will present “Cloud Storage -— Advantages and Disadvantages." He plans to cover a bit on each of the major providers like Apple iCloud, Dropbox, and Google Drive. For more information, visit FWBMug.com, call 862-3327 or email jeancdutton@mac.com.

Republican Women

The Republican Women of Okaloosa Federated will meet at 11:30 a.m. Feb. 7 at the Wyndham Garden Hotel on Okaloosa Island. There will be a forum consisting of Destin mayor and city council candidates. Make reservations by Feb. 3 at 651-5416 or donnapattison@cox.net. Cost of the lunch is $18/members and $20/guests.

Kids Valentine’s Day Story-time

Children ages 4 to 12 years, along with their parents, can share in a special Valentine’s Day Story-time program at the Destin Library at 9:30 a.m. Feb. 8. The program will feature music, stories and special Valentine’s themed activities. This event is free and open to the public. Call 837-8572.

Job Fair

Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort will host a job fair from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 9 at the resort’s Linkside Exhibit Hall. Hiring full-time, part-time, seasonal, and internship opportunities are available. Applicants are asked to dress in "business casual" attire and bring copies of their résumé. On-the-spot interviews will take place, and applicants are encouraged to apply online prior to attending at careers.sandestin.com. Call 267-8169.

Chocolate Fare

The Destin United Methodist Women’s 15th annual Chocolate Fare will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 10 at Destin United Methodist Church. Proceeds go to helping missions through United Methodist Woman.

Fasching Party

The ladies Sodality of Corpus Christi Catholic Church is planning a Fasching Party from 5-9 p.m. Feb. 10 in the Church Hall. There will be a DJ playing German music as well as other music for your dancing pleasure, homemade food including German Bratwurst and Knackwurst from USINGERS of Milwaukee, Wis., sauerkraut, red cabbage, German potato salad, pumpernickel bread, apple cake for dessert and coffee, iced tea and lemonade. German beer and wine will be offered for sale. The price of the fun evening will be $20 per person. Tickets can be purchased by calling Jen Dwight at 850-543-9557 or Mimi Sisson at 850-376-1599.

DES Spirit Nights

LuLu’s in Destin will host Spirit Night for Destin Elementary from 5-8 p.m. Feb. 12 (the second Monday of each month through April). Ten percent of food and drink sales will be donated to the Destin Elementary PTO. LuLu's is at the foot of the Mid-Bay Bridge.

Valentine’s Day Crafts

Children ages 4 to 12 years, along with their parents, can stop by the Destin Library from 3-7 p.m. Feb. 13 and create a Valentine’s Day craft for that special person in their life. Choices are a Love Bears All Things Sign or a Beary Special Valentine Magnet. This event is free and open to the public. Call 837-8572.

Author, master mentor and life strategist Arlene Karian will speak at the Destin Library at 6 p.m. Feb. 15. Her presentation, “ATTN: Conscious Women Entrepreneurs — Discover the 3 Secrets to Unleash the Hidden Power Within You to Balance Your Life and Your Work,” is free and open to the public.

Candidates for Destin City Council and mayor will have a forum to discuss local issues from 6-8 p.m. Feb. 15 in the Destin Life Center at Destin United Methodist Church, 200 Beach Drive. For more information, contact the Destin Chamber at 837-6241 or visit DestinChamber.com.

Spring Craft Show

The City of Destin’s 12th Annual Spring Craft Show will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 16 and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 17 at the Community Center. There will be more than 50 vendors showing handcrafted jewelry, woodcarvings, paintings, food items and more. Vendor booths are available for $45/Destin residents and $55/non-residents. Space is limited so vendors need to register early. Admission is free to the public. Please call the Destin Community Center at 654-5184 for more information.

SHRM

The Society for Human Resource Management of the Emerald Coast (SHRM-ECC) will meet at 7:15 a.m. Feb. 21 at Two Trees Restaurant, 1955 Lewis Turner Blvd. in Fort Walton Beach. Martha Bryson, SPHR/HR will speak. Cost is $15/members and $20/non-members with breakfast included. Register by Feb. 19 at www.SHRM-EmeraldCoast.org.

Annual Dinner

The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast’s Annual Dinner March 1 at the Emerald Grande Ballroom at HarborWalk Village recognizes key volunteers, community leaders, staff and Club members who have helped drive the impact of Boys & Girls Club here in Northwest Florida. Purchase tickets at https://emeraldcoastbgc.org/2018-annual-dinner/

Panhandle Job Fair

The Annual Spring Panhandle Job Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 8 at St Mary’s Parish in Fort Walton Beach. Registration for employer set-up is 8-9:45 a.m. Businesses are encouraged to register early and take advantage of the lower $200 booth fee. Register online at www.panhandlejobfair.com. For the second year in a row, the Job Fair will partner with three area high schools. The interested students attending the job fair are ideal candidates for the service and hospitality industry.

Flower Arranging and Tablescaping

The Friends Guild of the Destin Library will sponsor an afternoon presentation, Flower Arranging and Tablescaping, with four area master gardeners and designers at 2 p.m. March 13 at the Library. This program is free and open to the public.

Velda Daughtery, president of the Destin Garden Club, will design a table with a coordinating floral arrangement and demonstrate creative napkin folding. Designer Ellen Tabor from Risi’s Interiors will have a special coastal table design from the store, and GeeGee Chandler will present a themed table with edible centerpiece.

Joyce Waters-Smith, a past president of the Destin Garden Club and Master Gardener, is coordinating the program and will design a spring Easter tablescape and demonstrate how greenery from the garden can be combined with grocery store flowers to create centerpieces. There will also be a drawing for several of the centerpieces.

Pinewood Auto Show

Enjoy parking among the finest aircraft and munitions in the world at the fourth annual Pinewood Auto Show March 24 at the Air Armament Museum, 100 Museum Drive, in Fort Walton Beach. Registration is from 8-11:30 a.m. with judging at noon. Fee is $20 before March 17; $25/after. Register at https://gulfcoastcouncil.doubleknot.com/registration/register.aspx#. Premium parking is $30. Concessions are available from Scouts and music provided by DJ Dan. No refunds/no rain date.

A Round for the Kids

The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast hosts A Round for the Kids Fundraiser March 24 at Emerald Bay Golf Club in Destin. Registration at 8 a.m. and Shotgun Start at 9 a.m. Register at https://emeraldcoastbgc.org/a-round-for-the-kids/

Easter Egg Hunt

The City of Destin’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt for ages 12 and under will be held at 9 a.m. March 31 at Morgan Sports Center. There will be a special egg hunting zone for crawlers and toddlers. For more information, call 650-1241.

Scout-O-Rama

A free family friendly event, Scout-O-Rama will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 7 at The Landing in Fort Walton Beach. Crossover for Webelo Scouts will be at 2:30 p.m. Enjoy free games, demos, crafts and community booths plus Scouts demonstrating scout skills.

Bayou, Bay & Beach

Destin's Eighth Annual Bayou, Bay & Beach 5K & 10K has moved to May 5. Both the 5K and 10K courses are set along Destin streets with peek-a-boo water views, and the 10K is USA Track & Field-Certified. A portion of event proceeds will benefit the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance. Reg-istration is now open on www.runsignup.com. Visit www.bayoubaybeach.com or follow

www.facebook.com/bayoubaybeach for details.

Tai Chi Class

The Destin Library will offer one-hour Tai Chi classes with Barbara Rezmer, a certified Tai Chi for Health instructor, on Monday mornings at 9 a.m. The cost is $5/session. Enrollment is limited to 12 participants with registrations (on a first-come first-served basis) accepted by phone or in person. Call 837-8572.

Caregiver Support Group

Covenant Alzheimer’s Care support group for those caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or a dementia-related illness is held at 5:30 p.m. the first Thursday of every month at Brookdale Fort Walton Beach, 233 Carmel Ave. Call 864-4600.

Make-and-Take classes

The Destin Library has a series of free how-to workshops for ages 18 and up that focus on practical projects and skills you might not have learned in school. Workshop will be held the last Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided. No registration. Call 837-8572 or email mfontaine@cityofdesitn.com.

Code Club

The Destin Library's Code Club for children in fifth through eighth grades will be divided into two sections, web design and game design. Meetings will be held from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Tuesdays (web design) and Fridays (game design). Registration is required to participate, and will be capped at 18 students. Register at http://www.cityofdestin.com/forms.aspx?FID=143.

Kiwanis Club of Destin

The Kiwanis Club of Destin meets every Thursday at 8 a.m. at the Destin Methodist Church Life Center on Beach Drive in Destin. The public is invited to attend the club’s weekly meetings.

Flotilla 1-4 USCG Auxiliary meets at 8 a.m. on the second Saturday of each month at Coast Guard Station Destin on Okaloosa Island. Anyone wishing to become a member is welcome to attend. Prior military duty is not required. Call 865-9130 or email www.flotilla14.info.

Bereavement Support Group

Share and learn more about the grief journey you are enduring with an Emerald Coast Hospice bereavement group at 1:30 p.m. Wednesdays at the Destin Library. Groups are free and ongoing.

Grand Boulevard Farmers’ Market

The market will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday in Grand Park in Miramar Beach between Cantina Laredo and Tommy Bahama’s. Vendors will offer locally sourced food-based items including produce, eggs, milk, butter, grass-fed beef, chicken, lamb and pork, honey, pickled vegetables and gourmet jams.

30A Farmers’ Market

This community event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays in Town Center in Rosemary Beach features fresh vegetables, fruits, eggs, honey, cheese and more. Market is held on Sundays from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Recreation and fitness activities at Destin Life Center at Destin United Methodist Church, 200 Beach Drive, are from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Closed Sunday. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday visit the Soul Café for lunch. Call ahead for dine in or pick up. For information, call the DLC at 837-2021.

All activities are at the Destin Community Center, unless noted. Call 654-5184 or email recreation@cityofdestin.com for information and to register. Persons with disabilities who require assistance are asked to notify the center 48 hours in advance.

‒ Aerobics: A low impact class is offered at 9 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Bring water and a towel. Cost is $3/session.

‒ Capoeria: Class in the Brazilian martial art that combines the elements of dance, acrobatics and music will be held Thursdays at 7 p.m. for all ages.

‒ Game Room: Open to children age 10 and older from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays..

‒ Pickleball: Sessions are from 12:30-3:30. Mondays. and 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.Wednesdays and Fridays. Fee is $3/non-residents or $2/residents. Racquets and balls are available, just bring gym shoes.

‒ Senior Art Lessons: The Destin Senior Center at Buck Destin Park, 724 Legion Drive, offers six-week sessions for Seniors (50 years and older). The current lessons began Oct. 6 with three weeks of pen and ink, then three weeks of acrylics. Fees are $20/non-Destin residents and $15/residents. Cost includes materials.

‒ Senior Book Club: The Destin Senior Members meet at 10 a.m. the 2nd Wednesday of the month at the Destin Library, 150 Sibert Ave.

‒ Senior Drop-In Hours: The Destin Senior Center at Buck Destin Park, 724 Legion Drive, offers senior drop-in hours from 9 a.m. to noon every Tuesday and Thursday for Seniors (50 years and older) to meet and enjoy each other’s company, participate in games such as Mexican Train Domi-noes, Scrabble, cards, etc.

‒ Senior Walking Club: The Destin Senior Members walk around the Destin Community Center’s gymnasium from 8-9 a.m. Monday-Friday. All of the miles that you walk will be added to the “team map” as we travel from one region to the next.

‒ Table Tennis: Play from 1-3 p.m. Tuesday and 9 a.m. to noon Thursdays. Paddles and balls provided. Fee is $2/resident and $3/non-resident.

‒ Yoga: Classes from 12-1 p.m. Thursdays. Bring mat and towel.

- Zumba Gold: A low impact class using Latin music for fitness/dance is offered from 11 a.m. to noon Thursdays. Fee is $6/session.

‒ Zumba Gold Toning: Classes from 11 a.m. to noon Mondays for full body workout with rhythms of Zumba Gold. Fee is $6/session.

Toastmasters International

To become more effective communicators and leaders, visit one or more of the Toastmasters clubs at the following locations or visit www.toastmasters.org/Find-a-Club.

The Seniors of Destin meet the fourth Friday of the month for a covered dish and to celebrate all birthdays for the month. The program is spon-sored by the city of Destin and Gentiva Home Health. Each month has a featured guest speaker that pertains to senior living. Call 685-5310.

Betterment Alliance

The Main Street Betterment Alliance meets at 6 p.m. Tuesdays at the American Legion, 311 Main Street. Call 837-3818.

Destin Business Builders

Destin Business Builders Networking group meets from 7:15-8:45 a.m. every Wednesday at the Destin United Methodist Life Center. Call 651-1300 ext. 13.

Food Buying Club

A small group interested in eating healthy and purchasing smart meets at 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays at 125 Scottsdale Court in Mary Esther. On the second Tuesday, the group meets at Fountain Square in downtown Fort Walton Beach for the Growing Local film series. Call 863-4040.

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